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I am planning a summer trip and so wanted to hear (more!) from others...

My first trip to Paris was 7 or so years ago...

My favorite museum was Musee D'Orsay...my favorite experiences involved walking...watching the Tuileries begin to "bloom"...wandering the streets of the Rive Gauche...sitting briefly to watch activity along the Seine...shopping (Prada and Joseph at the time!)...

My least favorite experiences...Versailles on Easter Sunday (absolute chaos, craziness, the greatest number of people per cm that I have ever experienced)...a few very mediocre dining experiences at random sidewalk cafes (some interesting experiences at Buddha Bar...sign of the times(!)...Willi's Wine Bar...Mexican and Indian restaurants that I no longer remember names of...

Some of my favorite lunch experiences were taking Boulangerie bags to the parks to live Paris in the spring...

Want to broaden my experiences on my next trip and find PF feedback so very valuable...

Addicted to Hermes

My favorite "budget" hotel is Hotel Mercedes near the Wagram metro stop. It's small, they have a good breakfast and the staff is amazing. I stayed there about 3 years ago and paid about $60US per night for a room and breakfast.

J'adore Hermes

Colette, 213, St Honore, not a far walk from the mothership. I'm too old and fat for the scrummy clothes on the first floor but I'm good for the shoes there, if only I could afford them, They have quite a nice cafe on the ground floor, good quality, healthy food but decor a bit on the modern side for my tastes.

Look out for a small branch of La Drogerie on rue du Jour - buttons, ribbons felts, everything for crafts and knitting, amazing shop for a browse even if you're not a knitter.

Also on rue du Jour, Zadig and Voltaire, casual and understated knits and clothes, very french.

It's worth getting a copy of 'Where to Wear 2006, Paris Shopping Guide', it's a real gem of a book, all the best shops with a synopsis of all and maps and recommended eateries, I wonder if the 2007 version is out. It's small enough to take with you too.

A lovely restaurant that I can recommend is Chez Paul on the island where the Notre Dame is located, Isle de..something. It's very french and open on a Sunday, great as Hermes is closed , do all your sightseeing that day. I wrote a review (it was a while ago):

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A bit naff, but I loved it, was the hop on hop off tourist bus with guided commentary, nice to get an overview of Paris and save your feet a bit.

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LOL...confession...I enjoyed this as well! Purchased tickets for the bus and the Louvre before going to Paris...saved a bit of time as well...especially at the Louvre (was not as interesting to me as D'Orsay, but a must on first trip to Paris)...

Shopping's My Cardio

my favorite H store was 24 faubourg, of course any time of day is fine by me!

favorite cafe has to be cafe de flore on st. germain de pres...just such great people-watching!

favorite macaroons are at laduree, no contest! also can't miss having ice cream at berthillon....OMG, so good!

favorite international restaurant is an italian restaurant called marco polo on rue de conde (also in st. germain) - so amazingly good!

favorite non-H shopping...hmm. i love kitchen goods, so a store called e. dehillerin (rue Coquillière) was my personal fave. so amazing - they have literally everything!

favorite experiences: i love just wandering around....or sitting in cafes, people-watching. it's so fun to get dressed up, wander around, and just see paris in action. much better than the tourist stuff, IMO

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@PBCcloset

my favorite H store was 24 faubourg, of course any time of day is fine by me!

favorite cafe has to be cafe de flore on st. germain de pres...just such great people-watching!

favorite macaroons are at laduree, no contest! also can't miss having ice cream at berthillon....OMG, so good!

favorite international restaurant is an italian restaurant called marco polo on rue de conde (also in st. germain) - so amazingly good!

favorite non-H shopping...hmm. i love kitchen goods, so a store called e. dehillerin (rue Coquillière) was my personal fave. so amazing - they have literally everything!

favorite experiences: i love just wandering around....or sitting in cafes, people-watching. it's so fun to get dressed up, wander around, and just see paris in action. much better than the tourist stuff, IMO

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i have to totally agree with this!!! cafe de flore has has some AWESOME hot chocolate as well!!!

as for fave restaurant, we ate at guy savoy one night and it was heaven. i heard they opened up a location in vegas at caesars!!!

for non-H shopping.....gosh...the whole galeries lafayette area is amazing (but can be overwhelming at the same time)! i also love wandering into cartier, goyard, and chanel.

we stayed at Renaissance Paris Vendome, which is within a couple blocks to ALL the shopping...including H. it's owned by Marriott and my DH is a preferred customer so we get awesome rates. for example, normal rates around christmas are $700/night and we got it for only $160/night!!

and yes, i loved getting dressed up just to walk around and take pics. DH and i would just sit at cafes or on benches and people watch as well. those are also my fave moments in paris...of course aside from getting a birkin too!!!